It isn`t tough for us. We are OS and we COPE

u751904

dizzybuff life has been tough for a lot of people recently. I got made redundant in march and I now earn about a fifth of what I used to. In fact I am earning what I did as a kid 20 years ago. I personally just keep saying to myself that it will keep going and try to enjoy what I have. That is not to say you haven't earnt the right to have a good moan about life becuase it would be so much nicer to not go through these things. Practically you must do a budget. Go to the income / money tabs at the top of the page and do Martins budget planner. Get internet banking if you haven't got it already and really really manage your income / expenditure. Personally I say I am spending X on monthly expenses and withdraw that amount from the bank on a monthly basis and stick it in a jar and pay with cash so I can see what I am spending. I re did martins budget planner the other day and found out that I could save a bit more by switching to a water meter and energy supplier. I didn't think I could make any more savings. Go through all his advice step by step to see what if anything you can do. Once you get into the swing of things it isn't that bad. This will put you in a better position if you do get made redunandant. Also there is a recommendation at the moment that folk look at fixing their mortgage rates. So you might want to look at this. My last point is to try not to think about this all the time it will get you down. Go out with your little one and enjoy the parks / libraries / painting / baking etc

mardatha

DB, I think we all have half a day when we can do nowt but panic then after that, you start fighting back I look on life as a war - and I will get by one way or another!!
Def agree with poster who said use cash only.

dizzybuff

mardatha wrote: »

DB, I think we all have half a day when we can do nowt but panic then after that, you start fighting back I look on life as a war - and I will get by one way or another!!
Def agree with poster who said use cash only.

Found out Monday still panicking , Ill be okay tomorrow . Dont think being pregnant is helping.

Charis

mary-op wrote: »

I need that particularly now as I'm currently not able to walk without walking frame just a few steps at a time round the house.......very scary experience waking up one morning not able to walk and was rushed off to hospital.

Good to see you Aril, Charis and Ceridwen:)

Hello Mary, lovely to 'meet' you again too. Sorry to hear about your and OH's health setbacks but happy to see you still have your positive attitude and are still crafting things. It's the little things and our refusal to be beaten that will get us through these difficult days.

angelaf wrote: »

Charis I wholeheartedly agree with you.
[...]
It is helpful and interesting to have such a variety of topics on here.

Thank you Angelaf. It does seem to be working out OK at the moment as two separate threads. I still read quickly through most of the other one but don't post there any more. I do think we need the friendship and support element alongside the frugal tips here, a lot of posters feel alone in their struggles. We'll have to keep it brief but sincere.

dizzybuff wrote: »

Okay , not sure where to post , Im as OS as i can be at the moment . Although I do need to sort my freezer out today . I am 39 weeks preg [...] I just need advise , more money saving ideas , places to look for jobs ( Not that any will take me on when preg and then on mat leave) I have 2 to apply for but both will want me to start asap so I may be looking at going back when new child is less than 4 months Im sat here crying I really am stuck in a rut . I feel i have let my family down . Im being consoled by a 3 year old bless.

Welcome to the thread Dizzy. You're in the right place for frugal tips and some emotional support while you cope with your situation. There's always something new to learn - I've been a homemaker for nearly 40 years and I'm still picking up tips from here. You're not alone and the last thing you should be worrying about, with a baby due any day, is finding work. Looking after a family, a partner and a household is hard work in itself. You haven't let anyone down. Corporate greed has let us all down. Keeping an accurate record of your expenses is the main key to saving. There's a good thread on saving money on your food budget here

Others will have lots more suggestions, I'm sure.

Puddleglum

mardatha wrote: »

DB, I think we all have half a day when we can do nowt but panic then after that, you start fighting back I look on life as a war - and I will get by one way or another!!
Def agree with poster who said use cash only.

It gets easier, although waiting for a baby to pop out and say hello, I guess that you will just laugh at that one! As you make economies and adjustments they become normal and then eventually you realise that actually you are quite well off - and a bit different to what you used to be.
Is your DH self employed and if he is does he have income protection? That may help.

dizzybuff

Puddleglum wrote: »

It gets easier, although waiting for a baby to pop out and say hello, I guess that you will just laugh at that one! As you make economies and adjustments they become normal and then eventually you realise that actually you are quite well off - and a bit different to what you used to be.
Is your DH self employed and if he is does he have income protection? That may help.

DH is both employed and self employed and at the moment hes doing very well. The aim is for him to go self employed full time. Think we need to get past the first hurdle , then we will take it from there.

Puddleglum

In that case DB when you come to the protection, be careful. Some years ago DH had double pneumona plus a bit and our income went down to zero. It turned out that the plan we had been paying quite a bit of money for was useless.

Austin_Allegro

I think I'm coping pretty well with O/S although my moneysaving schemes sometimes drive my g/f (who is pretty OS herself) up the wall.

I think it's important to see things in a positive light (what Amy Dacyzyzn, author of 'The Tightwad Gazette' calls 'creative deprivation') instead of seeing yourself as some sort of poverty stricken oddball. I've always been fascinated by those 'shabby genteel' characters in novels who live with very little money but manage to keep up a sort of faded gentility. We should perhaps consider ourselves lucky that we live in a country where it's still considered a bit vulgar to flash money around or even discuss it...eg I have friends who are well off but who don't seem to let the fact that I have b-r all bother them!

bellaquidsin

dizzybuff - chin up girl. You've had good advice from others about budgeting which is essential. I would certainly sponser the 'cash only' approach, I know not everyone would agree with this but it works well for me.

At the moment all you must concentrate on is having your baby and looking after it and your DS.

How would you stand with childcare costs if you were to work with two young children? Sometimes with careful planning and re-adjusting, it can work out cheaper to stay at home and look after them. If as you say your OH is doing well it may be possible to do this and really enjoy your little ones.

I do hope this story has a happy ending for you.

Bella.

mary-op

Hello all

ceridwen - we're still fostering......already had 16yr old when I was rushed off to hospital and to be honest he's been a real help.........when I go to bed he's straight there at the top of the stairs to be my ''extra handrail'' to cling on to and it's really brought out a caring side of him. He's no trouble and we're happy to keep him for another year.
Also makes me feel more 'normal'...........it's something we've done for years and if we suddenly stopped now it would seem not the 'norm' for us.
We know our life will never be quite the same but at least some aspects of it remain and gives me something else to focus on other than me and my aches and pains etc.

Badly need to de-clutter and get rid of ''stuff''......plus I made too much stuff for christmas, just little odds and sods, that'll go to the charity shop. At the minute the bits I'm doing are for birthdays that are up and coming..........got a little sign to paint for foster daughters OH to put in his shed and one like a rolling pin for her to put in the kitchen........therapy for me plus cost me about £2 so not bad.

Keep positive all of you.........the world ain't that bad is it when you count your blessings:)